Southern Rally Extends Chicago St. Losing Streak

December 31, 1989|By Mark Shapiro.

A promising start, then nothing but disappointment: the story of Chicago State`s loss to Southern University Saturday night, and the story of the Cougars` season.

Chicago State played perhaps its best game of the season but the Cougars found themselves at their lowest point after dropping an 81-73 decision in their gym. The defeat was Chicago State`s 10th in a row after an opening-day victory over Northeastern Illinois.

The Cougars grabbed a 16-point first-half lead over Southern, a team that has been in three straight NCAA tournaments and is largely intact from last season. But the Jaguars got back into the game with 18 straight points early in the second half, took the lead for good with nine minutes left and proved their superiority down the stretch.

``I think we played about as well as we can,`` said Chicago State coach Tommy Suitts, who was talking about the entire game, not just the first half. ``We just missed too many easy shots in the second half. I think we played better than they did even in the second half, but if you miss a layup it just doesn`t show.``

The Cougars scored more points in the first half (49) than they had in each of their last two games. They scored the game`s first eight points and were even the recipients of some good fortune. With no time left in the half, Rod Parker fouled Carlos Sample, who led the Jaguars with 24 points and is their best outside shooter. He missed two free throws, preserving the Cougars` 49-36 lead.

But the game was lost right after intermission. Gerald Collins, Chicago State`s leading scorer with 18 points, immediately put the Cougars up 51-36, but they didn`t score again for more than five minutes as the Jaguars built a 54-51 lead.

``We missed four or five easy shots at the beginning of the second half and mentally that got us discouraged,`` Suitts said. ``I don`t know why. I don`t know whether we heard footsteps or what.``

Chicago State took its last lead at 60-59 on Damon Woods` breakaway basket. Sample`s corner shot with nine minutes left put the Jaguars ahead for good at 61-60.

Trailing 75-71 with 23 seconds left, the Cougars missed two layups and then lost the ball on a traveling violation. A free-throw parade late in the game gave Southern its final margin.

``We were flat in the first half because we were looking at a team`s record,`` said Southern coach Ben Jobe. ``You have to play every team like they`re the greatest in the world. We finally realized that they`re not bad.`` Chicago State`s two big guns-Collins and James Parker-were plagued by foul trouble in the second half and contributed little.